Boelter Makes First State Court Appearance In Hennepin County

(KNSI) – The man who admitted to assassinating former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband is scheduled to appear in a Hennepin County courtroom this afternoon, opening a second prosecution just days after a federal judge ordered him to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Vance Boelter was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on Sunday morning. His first appearance on state charges is expected to be largely procedural.

A Hennepin County grand jury indicted Boelter on eight counts: two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of Melissa and Mark Hortman, four counts of attempted first-degree murder involving Senator John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, their daughter Hope and Representative Kristin Bahner, one count of felony animal cruelty for the killing of the Hortmans’ dog, and one count of impersonating a police officer.

The charges stem from the early morning hours of June 14th, 2025, when prosecutors say Boelter disguised himself as a law enforcement officer, outfitted his vehicle with police-style lights and went to the homes of several Democratic lawmakers.

Boelter pleaded guilty in June to six federal counts, including stalking resulting in death, murder through use of a firearm and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In exchange, federal prosecutors agreed not to pursue the death penalty.

On July 23rd, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim sentenced him to two consecutive life terms followed by an additional 40 years. Tunheim called it the longest sentence he had imposed after hearing thousands of cases and said he believed it was deserved. Boelter apologized in court before the sentence was announced, telling victims and their families he was sorry for the pain he caused. Federal prison sentences carry no possibility of parole.

Former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger has said the state prosecution stands on separate ground because several of the victims held state office, making it a distinct case brought on behalf of Minnesotans rather than the federal government.

A trial date is not expected to be set at Monday’s hearing.

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